Federal election 2025: Where and how to vote in the lower Great Southern on May 3

On Saturday, Albany — the most densely populated district in the vast expanse of the O’Connor electorate — will head to the polls for the 2025 Federal election.

There are eight candidates vying for the seat of O’Connor, Australia’s third largest electorate by land area: Liberal MHR Rick Wilson; Labor’s Darren Moir; the Nationals’ Heidi Tempra; the Greens’ Giz Watson; One Nation’s Gemma Johnston; Australian Christians’ Deonne Kingsford; Legalise Cannabis’ Philip Arnatt; and Trumpet of Patriots’ Lindsay Cameron.

The House of Representatives is the Federal Parliament’s Lower House where government is formed and is comprised of 151 members elected from 151 electorates across Australia, one of which is O’Connor.

To vote for a candidate for the House of Representatives, voters must number all the squares on the ballot paper in order of preference.

Voters also receive a white Senate ballot paper — to vote for candidates or parties in the Upper House of Parliament using a preferential voting system. The Senate is a house of review and is comprised of 76 senators — 12 from each of the six States and two from each of the Territories.

For the Senate ballot, voters can either number at least six boxes above the line for the parties or groups of their choice, or below the line numbering at least 12 boxes for individual candidates.

There are 122,082 people enrolled to vote in the O’Connor electorate of whom 30,176 had already voted as of 10.30am on Wednesday, including 25,183 at pre-poll, 3748 via postal vote and 1245 at mobile and remote polling stations.

Early voting is open at shop 2, 120 York Street, Albany up until Friday, then polling booths across the electorate will open on May 3 at:

• Albany Primary School
• Albany Agricultural School
• Albany PCYC
• Spencer Park Primary School
• Yakamia Primary School
• Mt Lockyer Primary School
• Little Grove Primary School
• Albany Sea Rescue Squad
• Flinders Park Primary School
• Lower King Community Hall
• Great Southern Grammar
• Elleker Hall
• Napier Hall
• Redmond Hall
• Narrikup District Hall
• Young Siding Hall
• Porongorup District Hall
• Denmark Shire Reception Room
• Mt Barker Community Resource Centre
• Scotsdale Hall
• Kendenup Agricultural Grounds
• Cranbrook Region Community Hub
• Wellstead Community Resource Centre
• Tingledale Hall
• Frankland River Community Resource Centre
• Walpole Community Hall
• Bremer Bay Community Resource Centre
• Ravensthorpe District High School